Tank closure



Jan. l31,A 1939. R-s. FELLOWS x-:T 1. v 2,145,758l

' TANK CLQSURE y original Filed Feb. 9, 1937 l Patented Jan. 31, 1939 fApplication I a s ssclaims. The present invention'relates totankclosures y yof the type adapted'partieula'rly for use in con'- Vus a fatankfiller neck showing the closure in position nection nwithautomobile 'gasoline` tanks and radiators.,VM .v f The principal objectofthe present invention embodies the provisionoafa tank closureembodyyin g a plurality `of horizontallyswingable closure segmentsadapted to 'be openedby pressure of ra,

fillingv nozzle; together lwith spring meanrsjfor yieldably urging A'thesegments 'into a closed position. a 'j A furtherobjectfisto provide a`tank closure f Eugene, Oreg. 4

February 9, 1937, serial no. 124,878

Renewed July 7,/"1938 (o1. V22o-33,) flange, as illustrated in Figure 1of the drawing 'of this character` associated with a cap perma- `nentlysecured to the tank neck and includinga plurality of pivoted., closuresegments slidable l horizontally .across the top of the cap and securedto thei'cap in a manner to prevent removal therefrom.

' Other objects and` advantages reside in the details of constructionand operation as more'fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing 'had .tothe accompanying drawing forming part'hereof, wherein`.like numerals refer to like f parts throughout andin which: k

'Figure 1is a vertical sectional viewA through 'Y thereon.

' Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the closure.

'showingFK the segments in closed position.

kFigure 4 is a similar view showing the segments in openposition, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially 'E on 'a' line 5-5 ofFigure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which rfor the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention,

the numeral 5 designates a tank having a filling 'k neck 6 Lextendingupwardly therefrom, the upper v4I.)

edge of the neck bent inwardly and downwardly to provide a flange 1 forengagement by laterally projecting lugs 8 formed on a perforatedtheftvproof device, forming the subject matter of a co- 'pendingapplication, and which embodies a perforated cylindrical memberindicatedl generally atj9 yhaving a flange I0 at its upper openend y.-.resting upon the top of the tank s. A surnamek 'gasket I I isinterposed between the flange and the neck to prevent rattling of theparts. The peripheral edge of the flange is stepped, as shown atk I2upon which is seated the down-turned flanged edge I3 of a closure'capI4, the latter be- .ing secured to the flange I Il by one or more screwsYIsls `AI5 which are inserted upwardly through the to preventunauthorized removal of the cap.

'Ihe construction of the downturned flange i3 spaces the cap `|4 fromthe flange to provide a working chamber-indicated at I6, for a pair oi'and 2|, positioned on topv of the cap are also secured to therespective plates by rivets or the like 22. Spacing blocks 23 areinterposed between thefplates yI1 and the segments 2B and 2I to preventbinding of the sameagainst the upper and lowerA surfaces of the cap.

As will be understood from an inspection oi Figure 5 of the drawing, thesegments 20 and 2l cooperate to form a vclosure for the opening I3 oflthe cap. K

The segments '20*and 2I aregpreferably in the form of half a disc havingtheir straight edges in abutting engagement and the lsegment ZI isformed with a rib 22 which overlies the adjacent edge of the segment 20to cover the abutting edges of the same when in closed position.-

A wire spring member 23 is provided for yieldably'maintaining thesegments in closed position, said spring member having its respectiveends inserted in recesses 2l formed in the plates I1, the intermediateportion of the spring having one or more convolutions 25 formed thereinthrough which the screw I5 is inserted to secure the spring to the cap I4. As clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, the ends ofthe spring extend from its associated recess 24 transversely of theplates I1 in a manner to yieldably urge the plates toward each other ina closed position. Theplate I1 which is secured to the closure segment20 is provided at its inner edge with a notch 26 and the other of saidplates, which is secured to the segment 2| is provided witha headedextension 21 seated in said notch and engages the sides of the notch tosimultaneously open the segment 20 when pressure is .exerted upon therib 22 for the purpose of openf ing the segment 2|.

For this purpose the outer edge of the rib 22 is provided with a curvednotch 28 adapted for engagement by the nozzle of a filling hose wherebylateral pressure against the rib will spring the segment 2| and thesegment 20 into an open position to permit insertion of the nozzle inthe opening I8 for filling `the tank.

It is believed the operation and advantage of the device will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing without further detail explanation.

What we claim is:-

l. A tank closure comprising a cap secured to the filler neck of a tank,said cap having an opening communicating with the neck, a pair ofclosure segments mounted for swinging movement into and out of positionover said opening, a pair of plates pivotally connected to the underside of the cap and xedly secured to the respective segments, saidsegments and plates 'being larger than the opening to prevent removaltherethrough, interengaging means between the plates for thesimultaneous actuationV A thereof, and spring means yieldably urging theplates and'segments to a closed position,4 Y' l. v

2. A tank closure comprising a cap secured to the ller neck of a tank,said cap having an opening communicating with the neck, a pair ofclosure segments mounted for swinging movement into and out of positionover saidopening, a pair of plates pivotally connected tothe undersideof the cap and xedly secured to the respective segments, said segmentsand plates being larger than the opening to prevent removaltherethrough, interengaging means between Athe plates for thesimultaneous actuation thereof, spring means yieldably urging the platesand segments to a closed position, and vmeans carried by one of thesegments for swingably actuating the same upon application of pressureupon said means in a direction corresponding to the swinging movement ofsaid one segment. l l

3. A tank closure comprising a cap secured to the lter neck of a tank,said cap having an opening communicating with theneck, a pair of closuresegments mounted for swinging movement into and out of position oversaid opening, a pair of plates pivotally connected to the under side ofthe cap and xedly secured to the lrespective segments, said segments andplates being larger than the opening to prevent removal therethrough,interengaging means between the plates for the simultaneous actuationthereof, spring .means yieldably urging the plates and segments to aclosed position, and a rib carried by one of Vthe segments overlying theadjacent edge of the other segment, said rib having a notch along oneedge engageable by a filling nozzle for swingably actuating saidsegments.

4. A tank closure comprising a cap secured to the ller neck of a tank,said cap having an opening communicating with the neck, closure meanscomprising a pair of disc-like segments, having their edges in abuttingrelation and cooperating to cover said opening, a pair of platespivotally connected to the under side of the capand iixedlyl secured tothe respective segments, said segments and plates being larger than theopening to prevent removal therethrough, a notchl in one of the plates,a headed extension on the other plate engaged in the notch andcooperating to actuate the plates and segments simultaneously, andkspring means yieldably urging the plates and segments to a closedposition. Y

5. A tank closure comprising a cap secured to the filler neck of a tank,said cap having an opening communicating with the neck, closure meanscomprising a pair of disc-like segments having their edges in abuttingrelation and cooperating to cover said opening, a pair of platespivotally connected to the under side of the cap and iixedly secured tothe respectivel segments, said segments and plates being larger than theopening to prevent removal therethrough, va notch in one of the-plates,a headed extension onV the other plate engaged in the notch andcooperating to actuate the plates and segments simultaneously, springmeans yieldably urging the plates and segments to a closed position, anda rib carried by one of the segments overlying the adjacent edge of theother segment, said rib having a notch along one edge engageable by afilling nozzle for svvingably actuating said segments. Y

ROY s; (FELLOWS. rEinen o. IMMEL.

